Inhaler



Sept. 21, 1948.

G. KARE INHALER Filed Aug. 5, 1947 ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 21, 1948UNITED STATES 'PATE NT OFFICE,

INHALER George Karp, Los Angeles, Calif. Application Algae 5, 1947,Serial No. 766,379

4. Claims. (01. 128-198) The present invention relates to inhalers ofthe type used in the therapeutic treatment of bronchial or nasalcongestions to obtain symptomatic relief therefor, and the principalobject of the invention is to provide a new and improved device forvaporizing a volatile inhalant and conveying the released vapors, mixedwith warm air, directly to the nostrils of the patient.

Another object of the invention is to provide an inhaler comprising abase having a socket mounted thereon, with a heating lamp screwed intothe socket, and a reservoir member detachably connected to the base andcompletely enclosing the socket and heating lamp, said reservo-ir beingremovable to permit replacement of the lamp, yet at the same timebeingsecured to the base in such a manner as to prevent casual removaltherefrom by children who might touch the electrical contacts in thesocket and receive electrical burns. a

A further object of the invention is to provide an inhaler that issimple to use, quickly andeasily disassembled for cleaning andrefilling, and highly eifective in its mode of operation, 7

Still another object of the invention is to provide an inhaler that iscompact, light in weight,

and simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the present inventionwill becomeapparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration ofthe following detailed description of the pre-- ferred embodimentthereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which;

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an inhaler em line shown in thedrawings, to form the complete unit. The three elements of the unit maybe made of any suitable material, but are preferably injece tion-moldedof heat-resistant plastic such, as phenol formaldehyde or the like,which produces an article that is light inweight, of good surfacefinish, and easily cleaned.

The base H is circular in plan form and in:

cludes a top M with an annular rim l extending downwardly from the outerperiphery thereof, the

. l 2 bottomedge of said rim being adapted to rest on a tableor otherstructurefor support. The center of the base top I4 is depressed to forma circular recess l6, and disposed within this recess is a lamp socket20 having a base 2! which is secured to the recess bottom 22 by screws23. A heating lamp 24 is screwed into the socket, 20, and its bulbprojects above the base top [4, as shown in Fig. 2. A cord 25 isled,through a hole 26 inthe rim l5 of the base, and-through another hole inthe side wall of the recess l6,,and the two wires thereof are connectedby screws 21 to the ter-- minals of the lamp socket 20. Projectingupwardly at opposite sides thereof, and bear against them flange 30 tosecure the reservoir member l2 tQthe base I l. "The top of the reservoirmember i2 is formed by an inverted cup-shaped portion 35, the side walls36 of which extend down into the space enclosed by the cylindrical sidewalls 3|,

rather closely adjacent the top end of the lamp bulb 24, and then turnoutwardly at 31 to J'oin the outerwall at a point spaced downwardly fromthe top edge thereof. The annular channel 49 defined by the side walls3|, 36, and bottom 31, forms a cavity that is adapted to receive cottonll or other absorbent material in whichthe medicinal inhalant isabsorbed. The inner wall 36 of the cavity, and the inhalant absorbed inthe cotton contained therein, are warmed by radiant heat from the lamp24 to a temperature of about 205 so that the volatile medicinalingredients of the inhalant are vaporized and mixed with warm air drawnthrough air holes 42 provided inthe flat top portion 43 of the reservoirmember. The reservoir member 12 is completelyenclosed within the coverl3, which is dome-shaped, with cylindrical side walls 44 extending downover the side walls 3| of the reservoir member, and bearing on the basetop M. A pair of lugs 45 project outwardly fromthe lower edge of thewall 44 on opposite sides thereof, and screwed into the bottom ends ofthe lugs are looking screws it, the heads of which are spaced out fromthe ends of the lugs by a distance equal to the thickness of the basetop M. The heads of the screws it are adapted to be inserted through theenlarged openings in keyhole slots which are formed in the,

ba e top 14 at opposite sides thereof, after which 3 the cover is turnedslightly to bring the screws into the narrow ends of the slots. Thistype of connection is the well-known bayonet lock, which enables thecover H to be connected to or disconnected from the base i l with only aslight twist of the cover.

Projecting upwardly from the top of the cover l3 are two nipples 52having central passages 53 unicat withthe i e ior of...the. il $1,Conduit, means, in the form of two'lengths of rubber tubing 54, areinserted over the nipples 52, and nasals 55 are inserted into the outerends of the tubing. The nasals 55 are tapered, tubular plugs of plasticwhich are adapted to be in, serted into the nostrils of the patient soas to. form a substantially leak-proof connection therewith. Thisarrangement providesazhighreone centration of the medicinal vapors inthe, air inspired through the nostrils, by eliminating dilution with airthat has not been drawn through the device. As a result, relief-fromrespiratory congestion is obtained-quickly-and withthe use of relativelysmall quantities of inhalant, since none of the vapor is lost to theatmosphere until it has served its-purpose. I

Air isadmitted to the: interior of the-inhaler I through passages or airholes 60 in the rim l5, and through otherholes 6| inthe' sides of thesocket l6. The air that is drawn into the space enclosed within thesocket l6 and reservoir member I2 is heated by the lamp 24 andrisesthrough the air holes 42 into the-spaceenclosed between the coverl3 and reservoir-member; Hera-the air is mixed with vapor from themedicinal material absorbed in theficotton H, and is drawn out throughthe nipples 52, tubing 54,.and nasals 55 intothe nostrils of thepatient. I

Theadvantages of my inventionwill be evident to those skilled in:theiart from .theforegoing description. The several parts of theinhaler are quickly and easily assembled or disassembled for the purposeof cleaning the parts and refilling the reservoir with "inhalant as;theilatter is used up. Thereservoir member l2 can be {removed from the basell byloosening the. set. screws 32 and lifting the member off the flange'30, giving access t'othelamp socket for-replacement ofrthe lamp 2 1,if'necessary: When thereservoir member 12 is locked to the flange 30 bysetscrews 32, the interior of the socket l6 is-inaccessible to childrenwho might otherwise be tempted to :touch the terminal connection. 25,orto ,explore the inner socket of the :lamp base 2 0 with. resultinginjury.

"While In have shownand described in 'COHSidr' erable detail what Ibelieve to bethepreferred form of: my invention, it is to be understoodthat such details are not restrictive,;:andthatvarious changes-maybemade in-the shape. and-arrangement of the several parts withoutdeparting fromthe scope ofthe claims appended hereto.

I I claim:

1. An inhaler comprising a base having an annular flange projectingupwardly from. the -atop surface thereof-a lamp socketamounted. on saidbase within said flange, a heating lamp disposed within said socket, areservoir member attached to said flange and enclosing said lamp,saidreservoir member having an annular cavity formed in the-topend thereofto receive medicinal ma:

terial, said cavity eneircling the top end of said lamp in closeproximitythereto, a cover enclosing said reservoir member, and conduitmeans communicating withthe interior of said cover for conveying thevapor from-said=material to the nostrils of the patient, said base andsaid reser-,

voir member having passages formed therein to permit air to be drawninto said reservoir member and thence into the space enclosed by saidcover.

2. An inhaler comprising a base having an annular flange projectingupwardly from the top surface thereof, a lamp socket mounted on saidbasetw-ithin saidflange, .a heating lamp disposed 10 within saidzsocket,a reservoir member attached to said flange and enclosing said lamp, saidresenvoir member having an annular cavity formed in the top end thereofto receive medicinal ma- --=-':teria1, said cavity encircling the topend of said ,lamp in closeproximity thereto, a dome-shaped coverenclosing said reservoir member, a pair of :nipples-projecting:from thetop of said cover and haying. passages communicating with the interiorthereof, and a pair of flexible tubes connected to said nipples, saidtubes having nasals at the outer ends'thereof adapted for insertion intothe nostrils of the-patient, saidloase and said reservoir member havingpassages formed'therein to admit air which'is warmed by said lamp andmixed with the vapors of said medicinal-materialbefore being drawnthrough said tubes.

3.- An'inhaler comprisinga base having a recess formed in the topsurface thereof, a lamp socket mounted in the bottom of said recess, aheating 3O lamp disposed within said socket, an annular flangeprojectingupwardly from said base around the margins of'said recess, areservoir member enclosing-said lamp and having side Walls extendingdown over said flange, means on said reservoir'member 'engageable withsaid flange to securesaid-member-thereto,'the top end of said reservoirmember having 1 an annular cavity formed therein toreceive medicinalmaterial which is'vaporizedby the heat of said lamp, a

40- cover enclosing said reservoir member, and conduitmeanscommunicating with the interior of said 'cover'for'conveying the vaporfrom said material directly to'the nostrils of the patient,'said baseand saidreservoir member having passages formedtherein to permit air tobe drawn into said'recess' whereit is warmed by said lamp and thencethrough the top of said reservoir member intopthe space enclosed by saidcover, said air being mixed with the vapors given oil by said medicinalmaterial," and thereafter drawn through said conduit means.

4. An inhaler'compr-ising abase having a central circularrecess formedin the top surface thereof, a lamp socketmounte'd in the bottom of 5said recess, a heating-lamp disposed within said socket, an annularflange projecting upwardly from said base around the margins of saidrecess, a reservoir member enclosingsaid' lamp and having cylindricalside Walls 'exte'ndingdown over the 'outside" of said flange, a setscrew having threaded engagement with said reservoir member and bearingat its inner end 'against said flange to-secure said member-thereto, thetop end of said "reservoir member having an annular cavity--formed"thereir'l to receive medicinal material which is'vaporizedbythe heat of said lamp,the insidewall of said annular cavity encirclingthe top end of'said lamp in'close 'proximity thereto, a cover enclosingsaid reservoir member, and con- =duit means-communicatingwith theinterior of said cover-for conveying the vapor from said materialdirectly to the nostrils of the patient, said base and said reservoirmember having passages formed therein to permit" air to be drawn intosaid recess where it iswarme'd by said-lamp and 5 thence through the topof said reservoir member into the space enclosed by said cover, said airbeing mixed with the vapors given off by said medicinal material, andthereafter drawn through said conduit means.

GEORGE KARP.

REFERENCES CITED Number 6 UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Libbey May 15,1900 Dorment Nov. 13, 1917 Weidlich Apr. 21, 1925 Heckel Aug. 3, 1937Robinson Jan. 9, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date file of this patent:

Great Britain Dec. 2a, 1934

